Rating: Summary: Could've Been A Classic... But One Thing Marred it All Review: U.S.S. Seawolf is not a bad book at all. In fact, it was one of the most entertaining, if not original stories I have ever read. It is about a disaster in which the world's most advanced and deadliest submarine, the U.S.S. Seawolf (SSN-21) is captured along with it's crew by the Chinese, revealing some incredibly powerful technology to the Chinese. Then there's the diplomacy, then the rescue. Pstrick Robinson's excellent research has paid off, as tons of technology and military details are featured, even better in the way Tom Clancy does it. Robinson at least makes it easy to understand, while Clancy just shows off his knowledge without realizing that most people don't get what he's talking about. However, the story itself is poorly written. The characterization is completely unrealistic, as they are all featured as geniuses, and incredibly immature. The amount of swearing rivals Tom Clancy at time. Even more, there is an almost overwhelming amount of racist remarks towards and about the Chinese. He hates these people, doesn't he? Moreover, he features the Chinese as overly ambitious, not too smart, and irrational. All the while, the Americans are shown as strong, as always making the right decisions, and there being no conflict. The miltiary and government officials are almost worshipped in the novel, as anyone who's a civilian is scorned upon and insulted. This sense of patriotism and ethnical prejudice is simply rude and uncalled for. Again, the novel is not bad. The story is very entertaining, but the words that made the story offensive pretty much ruined the whole book. All Robinson has to do next time is not offend anyone.
Rating: Summary: Robinson's crisis deepens Review: Well, there's not much to say -- the plot is SHALLOW!! The Seawolf hits the bottom fast. The idea is great, but there are no plot twists at all (except for Linus's identity), the synopsis on the back cover reveals the whole story. The moment you start reading it you know what's going to happen next and how the whole thing is going to end. Extremely linear and really disappointing. Also, some characters are just pathetic. Patrick, get it right!!
Rating: Summary: Read something else Review: USS SEAWOLF intends to be an exciting novel about submarine warfare. All it achieves, though, is to put some stupid, lame Chinese ( who talk and act like the Americans, but are only 5 ft tall and wear thick, horn-rimmed glasses - so much for cultural empathy) against swearing, brave Americans. Don't read this book if you don't consider the frequent use of "heh heh heh" and "whaddyamean" to be literature. Don't read this book if you don't feel like saluting when Robinson declares that the underlying stratum of goodness in Reagan's foreign policy renders all disobedience of the law irrelevant. Don't read this book if you don't like grotesque attempts at tragedy (We're gonna get your son back out, Mr. President, I promise!). But, most of all, don't read this book if you don't find the subtle, fascistoid morality (Let's sink the Chinese pricks so they can't do whatever they please... after all, they're CHINESE!) funny. Actually, don't read this book, full stop.
Rating: Summary: Where do I start? Review: I'm new to this author but I got the book for free (Thank God I didn't waste money on it.) From the beginning I was getting into what I thought was going to be a good read. It started out well and then quickly went down hill. Too right-wing, Clinton started it all, Chinese are "Little Pricks", etc. The ending was a GREAT letdown. What happened to Linus? Why did Judd commit suicide, what happened to the Chinese C in C? All questions with no answers. I think I'll skip this author from now on.
Rating: Summary: Sinks like a rock Review: USS Seawolf is a fatally flawed book. The premise is weak and the characters are worse. But the morst horrific, awful part of the book is the dialogue. I mean, Admiral Morgan is perhaps the least interesting character I've ever read about. The complete criminalization of the entire Chinese population is a horrible tactic, but the same treatment being made to all liberals (especially Bill Clinton) is even more horrendous. Robinson paints this as a war with two fronts: one overseas against the "Chinese pricks" and the other against the left-wingers at home who are trying to destroy America from the inside. I mean, what the hell? There is a bit of redemtion on the matter of clever action scenes, but the unsatisfying resolution that leads to...gasp...a Republican turning to evil sinks the book even further. I don't think this guy has even served in the military. Oh, and don't buy this book.
Rating: Summary: Uggh, A complete waste of time and trees. Review: To compare this book to an 8th grade writing class paper would be an insult to 8th graders everywhere. The plot had all the twists of a steel rod and the characters have the depth of a silicon wafer. The author would have us believe that a complete moron/coward could rise to the level of Executive Officer on a US Nuclear Submarine, that the Commander of the Chinese Navy could be an irrational rabid psychopath, and that the president of the United States is a doddering fool with no sense of national security. I like good military fiction, this book barely rises to comic book stature. Don't make the same mistake I did, the comparison of the reviewers I read to Clancy are grossly overstated. If I were Clancy, I'd sue for slander for even being mentioned in the same room with this book.
Rating: Summary: I'm sorry I've missed this author! Review: I was fairly impressed. This was my first book by Patrick Robinson, but I will definitely be reading his others!This book will not win any prizes, but its a great read. The action is tight and kept me interested. I did have some problems with the dialog between the SEALs (they really don't talk that way do they?), and the total collapse of the President at the end kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. (Judd would have made an interesting character in future books). I also would have liked it if he had not polarized the two sides so much (the US is ultra-good, China ultra-evil).
Rating: Summary: Navy thriller spoiled by author's perosnal axes to grind Review: Robinson spins a decent tale of the US Navy's latest and best submarine on a clandestine mission to China. There is a good grasp of the technology and Naval Operations. Usual cast of stock characters include the gruff all-knowing admirals and macho, superhero officers and men in the field, evil and sadistic foreign powers... Interspersed throughout the book are dogmatic asides slamming the Clinton administration in general and that era's relations with China. Is Patrick Robinson really Pat Buchanan? Also, the Americans in the book make constant anti-Chinese racist and stereotypical disparaging remarks. So Solly, two stars Pat.
Rating: Summary: Another Seawolf Class Novel ? Review: When I first saw USS Seawolf in my local book store, I automaticly read the brief review, go to the cashier and go home with the book. I'm very interested, very happy. I love this book, even though US has clearly pictured as the perfect 'hero' and the 'very good guy' in this novel, I still like this book. I like the sly character of Chinese General, Yu-Hsu, even though all his strategy is falling. But what makes me rate this book with only 3 stars because I found (well according to me) the character of President was unconsistent. A tough president in front, then a weening president at the end. Please, because I'm a big fans of Seawolf class submarine, if you have any plan to generate Seawolf class novel in the future try to make this book rated to 5 stars, I know you can do it.
Rating: Summary: Kind of like Springsteen Review: I went to high school in Springteen country and found you either like him, or you didn't (I didn't until later in life). From reading other reviews, I guess this book has a similar quality. I've read all of Robinson's books and I'm not much for his characters (who seem a little John Wayne-ish at times), but I thought this story line was one of his best. And the ending caught me completely off guard.
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